The Rev. John Richter will trade in his black Geneva gown for traditional German lederhosen next month as the 2016 Cullman Oktoberfest Burgermeister. 

The senior pastor at St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Christian Church has been tapped to serve as master of ceremonies for the annual festival celebrating Cullman’s German heritage Oct. 5-9 at the Festhalle Market Platz.

A lifelong Cullman resident, Richter leads the city’s first church, whose German founders included Col. John Cullman himself, and was established in 1874 before the town was officially incorporated. St. John’s held services in German up until 1941, but many present-day members can still trace their ancestry back to those German families who founded the church.

Richter is among those, with his grand uncle, the late Hubert Richter, being instrumental in starting the German Club and Cullman’s Oktoberfest.

“I remember going to events here at the church and going to other meals at other parts of the community, Sacred Heart and the All-Steak, and I like German food so I am excited about that, getting to indulge bit,” he said. “It’s an honor to serve my home congregation and the community I was brought up in.”

“I think it’s important for communities to draw everyone together in a time of thanksgiving, to be grateful for what we have, but it’s also a reminder that we are, in a lot of ways, dependent on one another for our community’s health and well-being,” he said. “Events like this provide us an opportunity to not only showcase our community to others, but to bring us together as well.”

Next month will be the first time he’s ever donned lederhosen, and he regrets Alabama’s warm fall temperatures will keep him from wearing a traditional German jacket he picked up in Munich on a trip.

And if he needs any pointers, he won’t have to look too far for help; 2011 Burgermeister Michael Sullins is a friend and has offered to help him with any questions.

“His advice was enjoy the week, enjoy the people and just celebrate with everyone,” Richter said. “It’s definitely going to be a busy week. I’m clearing my week of everything but sermon preparation. I will be preaching that Sunday.”

The Oktoberfest Executive Board announced Richter as this year’s burgermeister this week, citing his past involvement with the festival as well as his work in the community.

Cullman County Museum Curator Elaine Fuller said Richter will be a great representative for Oktoberfest, and pointed to his obvious historical connection to the festival’s official 2016 beer: Goat Island Brewery’s Richter’s Pils brew.

“Candidates are nominated, and the one requirement is that they have worked in Oktoberfest in the past. John works the dinner and entertainment at St. John’s, so he’s been there,” she said. “We had several nominations, but we chose John for his involvement in the community. He has a great, young family, and we thought he’d be a great ambassador for Cullman.”

Trent Moore contributed to this story.

Tiffeny Owens can be reached at 256-734-2131, ext. 135.

Oktoberfest Meals

• 5-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3, St. John’s Evangelical Protestant Christian Church
• 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, Cullman Regional Medical Center
• 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5, Terri Pines Country Club
• 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 5 and Friday, Oct. 7, Sacred Heart Catholic Church
• 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, Christ Lutheran Church
• Friday, Oct. 7 and Saturday, Oct. 8, Rumor’s Deli
• 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church
• 5 p.m. nightly, Busy Bee Cafe

Friday, Oct. 7

• Burgermeister Ball at Cullman Civic Center, 7-11 p.m.

Saturday, Oct. 8

• Oktoberfest 5K/10K Run: Registration begins at 7 a.m., followed by the race at 8 a.m. Last day to pre-register is Thursday, Oct. 6.
• Cullman Lions Club Charity Bed Race, time to be announced.

The full Oktoberfest schedule will be announced at a later date.